Cessna 172S and Cessna 172S accident near Daytona Beach, Florida, May 7, 2015
On May 7, 2015 at about 2:15 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 172S (N5144H) and Cessna 172S (N487ER), were involved in the same accident near Daytona Beach, Florida (Daytona Beach Intl airport). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The landing airplane pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in a runway excursion and ground collision with a taxiing airplane.
The landing airplane pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in a runway excursion and ground collision with a taxiing airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 7, 2015 · about 2:15 pm local time
- Place
- Daytona Beach, Florida · Daytona Beach Intl · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 172S S, built 2009 · all 172Ss on the register
- Registration
- N5144H · no longer on the register · serial 172S10897
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 172S S, built 2007 · all 172Ss on the register
- Registration
- N487ER · registry record · serial 172S10547
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 172S final · quoted from the NTSB record
The Flight Instructor (CFI) of the landing airplane (N5144H) said, the student pilot's landing was not stabilized and the CFI stated, "my controls" and assumed control of the airplane. However, according to the CFI, the student did not release the right rudder pressure and the airplane exited the right side of the paved portion of the runway, impacted a taxiway sign, and subsequently impacted an operating airplane on the adjacent taxiway. The landing airplane sustained substantial damage to the nose and left wing. The taxiing airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing spar. Neither the pilot of the landing airplane nor the taxiing airplane reported any mechanical malfunctions or failures with their respective airplanes, prior to the accident that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 172S final · quoted from the NTSB record
The Flight Instructor (CFI) of the landing airplane (N5144H) said, the student pilot's landing was not stabilized and the CFI stated, "my controls" and assumed control of the airplane. However, according to the CFI, the student did not release the right rudder pressure and the airplane exited the right side of the paved portion of the runway, impacted a taxiway sign, and subsequently impacted an operating airplane on the adjacent taxiway. The landing airplane sustained substantial damage to the nose and left wing. The taxiing airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing spar. Neither the pilot of the landing airplane nor the taxiing airplane reported any mechanical malfunctions or failures with their respective airplanes, prior to the accident that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record for the Cessna 172S from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
- Ground collision during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Instructor/check pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Aircraft › Contributed to outcome
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,033 hours in all; 706 in this make and model; 81 in the last 90 days; 59 in the last 30 days; 937.2 as pilot in command; 789 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 5, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 58 hours in all; 58 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 0 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,394.8 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, April 6, 2015; 33 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (piston); 5,445 hours total
- Operator: Phoenix East Aviation LLC
The flight
- Departed from: KDAB Daytona Beach FL at 2:00 pm
- Destination: KDAB Daytona Beach FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25L, 3,195 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from DAB
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
The factual record for the Cessna 172S from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot of other aircraft
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Aircraft › Contributed to outcome
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 517 hours in all; 450 in this make and model; 105 in the last 90 days; 45 in the last 30 days; 428 as pilot in command; 284 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 23, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 28 hours in all; 28 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 0 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,647.5 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, April 15, 2015; 32 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,250 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (piston); 6,342 hours total
- Operator: Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
The flight
- Departed from: DED Deland FL at 1:50 pm
- Destination: DAB Daytona FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 25L, 3,195 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.